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H. A. RAMSAY. HYDROPNEUMATIO MECHANISM TO CHECK RECOIL OF GUNS IN HEAVYORDNANGE.

N0. 437,797. Patent "WITNESS-58: 7/ I mvmro g \BEST AVAILABLE COP (NdModel.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

H. A. RAMSAY.

HYDROPNEUMATIC MECHANISM TO CHECK REGOIL OF GUNS IN HEAVY ORDNANGE.

No. 437,797. I Patented Oct. 7, 1890.

% W/T/VESSES: I INVENTOH m: Nuims Perms co., monnmm, msmucvow n c UNITEDSTATES PATENT OEEIcE.

HENRY ASHTON RAMSAY, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

HYDRO-PNEUMATIC MECHANISM TO CHECK RECOlL OF GUNS IN HEAVY ORDNANCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 437,797, dated October'7, 1890.

Application filed January 23, 1890. Serial No. 337,909. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY ASHTON RAM- sAY, residing in the city ofBaltimore, State of Maryland, have invented an Improved Gun- Mounting,with a new and useful hydro-pneumatic mechanism for neutralizing theeffect produced by the recoil of guns in heavy 0rdnance and forautomaticallyreturning a piece to battery after the recoil, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in the mounting of heavy ordnance,in which it is desired to check the recoil of guns and automaticallyreturn the piece to battery after its discharge; and the objects of myinventlon are, first, to provide a cushioning medium to'neutralize theeffect of the shock occasioned by the reaction of the piece at the timeof firing; secondly, to automatically return the piece to the positionit occupied before being discharged and without losing its sight readyto fire again; thirdly,to provide a device to properly govern theelevation and depression of a gun while permitting the piece to slidefreely within its trunnion-band, the gun being suspended in a mountingfixed about a central or forward pivot, the mounting not partaking ofthe backward motion occasioned by the recoil of the piece, and by thesemeans to so gradually arrest the recoil of the piece as not to bring aninjurious shock on the mounting, to prevent the necessityof having themounting in two parts with one of them movable. To enable me to arrangethe cushioning-cylinders attached to the gun itself so that the bore ofthe gun will always be parallel with the central axis of the cylinders,causing the reactionary effect of the resisting medium in the cylindersto be opposite to the energy exerted by the recoil and equally effectiveat all angles of elevation, and to provide for the admission of theresisting fluid-pressure in the cylinders by introducing it through thetrunnion of the piece, providing a conduit having connection with anaccumulator. I attain Fig. 3 is a cross or trans verse section throughthe trunnions. Fig. 4 is a detail drawing of the elevating-sector andguide. Fig. 5 is an inverted view of part of the piece, looking upward,showing the recoilcylinders in section cut through A B, Fig. 6. Fig. 6is an end view of the trunnion-band, looking toward the breech of thegun. Fig. 7 is an enlarged view of part of the gun in side elevation,showing the recoil-cylinders, trunnion-band, piston-rod, and lugs, theside cheek of the mounting being removed.

The same letters indicate like parts throughout all the views.

The two recoil-cylinders shown in the several views and marked D and Eare proportioned according to the caliberand maximum charges to be usedin the piece, considered in connection with the pressure to bemaintained in an accumulator and pressure-pump to be provided, but notshown in the drawings, as they are to be of any ordinary construction.These cylinders are rigidly secured to a reenforcing band M, shrunk onor otherwise sooured to the barrel of the gun. The piston in D issecured to the solid piston-rod shown rigidly secured to a lug providedon the trunnion-band. A hollow plunger-rod F is also secured to a lug011 the trunnion-band L. This rod enters the cylinder E.

Embracing and freely moving on the rod F, independent of the lattersmotion, a piston H is provided with wing-guides, as shown.

A non-return valve K is provided on the outboard head of cylinder E,regulating the opening in a pipe connecting it with D; also a non-returnvalve N and chamber on the outboard of D, communicating with the atmosphere.

Communication between the cylinders D and E is provided for by theregulatingvalve P.

A conduit is provided by the pipe R to admit air under pressure throughthe trunnion and the plunger-rod F to the cylinder E.

Now the operation of the mounting with its recoil-cylinders andmaneuvering apparatus is as follows: It being understood that thetrunnion-band, while embracing the barrel of the gun, permits the latterto have an independent reciprocal motion, and the cylinderband is shrunkon or otherwise secured to the barrel of the gun, and hence must movewith it, carrying the cylinders. Suppose the gun to be run out intobattery with the piston close to the rear cylinder-head. The cylinder Dis filled with oil, water, glycerine, or other fluid. The loose pistonin E is forced to the inboard end of its stroke by admitting air underpressure through the hollow plunger-rod F, communicating through thehollow trunnion to the accumulator. Now, when the piece is fired theeffect will be to recoil, carrying the cylinders rearward, the pistonand plunger rods being stationary. The fluid in D flows through P intoE, further compressing the air in E, thus gradually retarding therearward movement of the gun until the energy occasioned by the firingof the piece has been absorbed or neutralized. The expansion of thecompressed air in E will now react, force the liquid back into D, thusreturning the piece to battery and restoring the equilibrium.

Shock to the mounting from the possible eifect of counter-recoil istaken up or neutalized by the cushioning air in the rear end of cylinderD, drawn through the non-return valve N at the time of the guns recoil,and the possibility of dangerous pressure on the recoil-cylinder head Dfrom the cushioningair being too great, so as not to permit the gunsgoing into battery, is prevented by a communicating pipe and Valve K,the latter opening, if necessary, and equalizing the pressure in the twocylinders. These valves have detached stems, so they act automatically;but the stems and hand-wheels regulate the amount of opening.

Should it be desired to run the gun in without firing for any reason, itwill onlybe necessary to open the non-return valve on E, when the airunder pressure in E will pass into D and force the cylinder rearward,bringing the gun with it, the valve N being closed and a small valveused to introduce the liquid in the first place into D, slightly openedto start the movement, if necessary.

A small accumulator and hand-pump are provided to compress the air, anda conduit is arranged to carry the compressed air from the compressor tothe hollow trunnion, through which it passes into the channel providedin the trunnion band and lug, through the 1101- low piston-rod, to thecylinder E. As the effect of the recoil of the piece is to compress theair, when the air is once compressed in the accumulator to the desiredpressure, which can be done bya few strokes of a small air-pump, thevolume of the clear space in the cylinder being small, it will requirethe expenditure of little orno power to maintain the desired pressure inthe accumulator.

The gun is elevated and depressed by a worm-wheel segment or sector.(Shown at O in Figs. 2 and 3 and as a separate detail in Fig. 4.) Thissegment is'bored at the eye to fit around the trunnion, oscillatingfreely around the trunnion as a center with an independent motion. At Y,forming part of the sector, there is a guide to receive the supplementaltrunnion S, thus providing a guide for this trunnion, which permitsreciprocating while preventing twisting motion to the piece, (the lattercaused by the reactionary effect from the discharge of rifledprojectiles,) and at the same time providing a means of governing itselevation and depression to an extreme and unusual degree. The peripheryof the segment is provided with helical teeth, into which the threads orteeth of a worm-wheel engage, this worm-wheel pinion being keyed to ashaft revolving in bearings secured to the check of the mounting andoperated by a hand-wheel \V. This device effectually controls the piecein its vertical movement with the greatest nicety and exactness withexpenditure of little power, as the combination of the screw and levergive a large translation of power to work.

In the case of light charges, small-calibered pieces, and consequentlyreduced inertia in the recoil, the accumulator and pressurepump will notbe necessary, as the-air drawn into cylinder E by a non-return valve inthe rear head will afford suiiicient cushion for the pistons, and inthis case the pistons would be fixed and loose on the rods, as before,but rod F would not be hollow.

The piece is trained horizontally about its central pivot by a piniongeared into a toothed rack secured to the periphery of the turn-table.The upright shaft, working in bearings secured to the lower fixed partof the table, can be operated either by hand or power, as indicated inthe drawings.

The central shaft is secured to the upper part of the turn-table andturns in the lower part as a step-bearing. This shaft is hollow to admitair to the conduit, a pipe from the accumulator passing through theshaft and made tight by a proper gland and stuffing-box.

Friction between the faces of the two parts of the table is reduced byinterposing anti-friction steel balls or double frustums of cones, asmay be found best, as shown at V, while conical wheels support theturn-table at the periphery,revolving on radial axles attached to andradiating from a central band U.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is

1. The combination, in a gun-mounting or mechanism for holding,controlling, and maneuvering guns, of recoil-cylinders secured rigidlyto the barrel of a gun, placed in the front or rear of the trunnions, asmay be most convenient, according to the preponderance of the piece,said cylinders containing pistons or plungers, or both, moving freelywithin them, connected by solid and hollow pistonrods to a trunnion-bandembracing the barrel of the gun, but permitting its free reciprocatingmotion,in conjunction with the conduit admitting air, gas, water, orother liquid IIO through the hollow trunnion and trunnionband, enteringthe cylinder E through the plunger-rod F, substantially as described.

2. The combination, in a gun-mounting, of a sector With a Worm-thread onits periphery, an eye bored to embrace but unattached to the trunnion,and provided with an arm containing a guide governing the supplementaltrunnion Y, in conjunction with the helix or worm pinion X, turning inbearings fixed to the cheek of the mounting, for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination, in a gun-mounting, of trunnion-band L, With attachedfixed trunnions in which the piece is suspended permitting oscillatorymotion of the gun by the trunnions on the band oscillatingin the fixedbearings provided on the stationary cheeks of the mounting, thuspermitting vertical movement, elevation, and depression of the barrel,while permitting free, independent, and unrestricted reciprocatingmotion of the piece,in conjunction with the worm and sector, guide, andsupplemental trunnion governing the elevation and depression of thepiece, all as set forth and described.

4:- The combination of a hollow piston or plunger rod with a hollowtrunnion forming air or liquid conduit to cylinder E, in conjunctionwith the loose piston l-I, solid piston R, and regulating-valves P, K,and N, with cylinders D and E, rigidly secured to a re-enforcing ring orband secured rigidly to the barrel of a gun and partaking of all itsmovements, together With the independent trunnion-band L andgoverning-sector O, regulating the elevation of the piece, incombination with the radiating turn-table abouta fixed center, all ashereinbefore described, and for the purpose set forth.

HENRY ASHTON RAMSAY.

\Vitnesses:

WILLIAM F. WILLIAMsON, WALTER S. WILKINsON.

